Pitbull attacks two teenagers, Roselle Park police officer that came to their aid

ROSELLE PARK — A pitbull loose on Locust Street attacked two teenagers and a police officer that came to their rescue, sending all three to the hospital, police reported.

Patrolman Alexander Lanza got the call for help and responded from just two blocks away at 8:48 p.m. He said that when he arrived the dog was "viciously biting" a teenage boy from Elizabeth in the middle of Locust Street, near the 7-11 store at West Webster Avenue.

The boy's friends, Roselle Park police said, were "desperately trying to fend off the attacking pitbull" by hitting it with a bicycle. The patrolman sprayed the dog with pepper spray and then grabbed it, allowing the teen to escape.

Patrolman Gregory Polakoski pulled up to assist, said police, and as he was getting an animal snare from the trunk of the car, the dog turned on Lanza, biting the officer in the thigh and refusing to let go.

Lanza un-holstered his gun, police reported, but didn't fire it because children were nearby. Polakoski hit the pitbull several times with his baton and then grabbed the dog's neck while Lanza got away. The dog wasn't wearing a collar, said police, and continued to lunge at Polakoski.

While injured, Lanza got the snare and secured the dog, but was bitten on the ankle while taking it to his police car, officers reported.

The pitbull was taken to the Woodbridge Health Department, Division of Animal Control for quarantine.

Polakoski found that two 17-year-olds has been bitten by the dog, the one from Elizabeth and another from Roselle. The teens were taken by ambulance to Overlook Hospital-Union campus for treatment of puncture wounds to their arms and legs, said police, while Lanza was treated at the hospital for wounds to his thigh and ankle.